Down in Wilmington, dang. All of the advice you've received on here regarding it being fuel related sounds right to me. Once you're done with the battery, I'd look in that direction.

 

Good choice. A full battery should measure 12.8 volts.

 

Charged the battery and nothing. Got some starter fluid, took of the air filter and spray some in the intake. It started up for literally a second and then stalled out again. So I am pretty sure it is a fuel issue. Just don't get it though, how could it start up and run fine to work, then start up fine after work, just sat for 8 hours, then have a fuel problem? The bike only has 4000 miles on it and was fully serviced at a HD shop 1100 miles ago. I said I wanted to learn all about this bike, so I should be grateful that God is allowing me this opportunity to learn. First week of 80 degrees and not a cloud in the sky though...

 

I assume you have a air cleaner cover of some sort installed. Remove the cover and then the air filter. Kneel down and while looking at the carb give the throttle a twist. You should see a fuel spraying into the carb. If you see no fuel that would indicate a fuel problem. No need to remove the back plate at this time.

 

Did you look at your fuel cut off switch? Should have a 1/4" or so fuel hose clamped to the bottom of it, to feed the motor, and a smaller vacuum line hooked to it as well. Maybe somebody messed with your ride and took one off? Plus, like the previous post, check for fuel getting to the carb when when you twist the throttle.

 

so you tested with starter fuid and it fired...that tells me you are not getting fuel from the tank to the intake...pull off the fuel line with the petcock in the off position, then turn it on ..fuel should run out...if it does, hook it back up and turn the fuel back on... and open the float bowl drain, you can get to it from the left side of the bike between the cylinders with a long screwdriver ..its a screw on the side of the float bowl...when you turn it a few turns you should get fuel out of the hose that is attached to bottom of the carb (it may take a minute or 2 to come out), it will run out near the front of the bike, just follow the hose and see where it ends...if you dont get fuel there it is likely your float is stuck in the up position or you have some crap stuck in the line...try tapping on the float bowl with the butt of the screwdriver...if that doesn't work you will need to take the carb off and disconnect the fuel line at the carb and see if fuel comes out...if no fuel there, blow out line, if yes fuel open carb float bowl and see whats up...be careful not to bend the float of the carb, the adjustment is critical for the bike to run right....go try this stuff and report back...also catch the gas that drains from the carb (if there is any) in a glass jar....it may be full of water which you will be able to see as a line in the gas...hell, the gas tank may be full of water and you just think you have fuel....I had that happen to car once, stumped the **** out of me for several days...it smelled like gas, pumped into the carb like gas, but was just water...

 

No, fuel should not run out of the petcock doing that unless the bike has an aftermarket petcock. The stock petcock is vacuum controlled and won't flow fuel unless the motor is turning over and creating enough vacuum to actuate it. The lack of vacuum from a cracked, broken, or disconnected vacuum hose is more likely the culprit.

 

She’s running!!!!

Took a good look at the fuel value and the hoses. No fuel was spraying in the carb when I cranked the throttle, so problem was before that. Guess the large hose coming out of the bottom of the fuel value which goes to the carb is for the fuel. The little hose that goes to some connector joint and the carb as well, was stuck between the engine and the choke. The choke has a plastic tube that holds the cable I think, and at the end of that is a bolt, assume to adjust the choke. Anyway the suction hose off the fuel valve was wedged between the engine and that bolt, so I freed it. Only to find the darn thing severed nearly in two. Got some electric tape wrapped around the hose and plugged her back in, doused the intake with starter fluid and bingo. Started, ran for a minute, then took her around the parking lot a few times. Totally stoked!!!!! Was able to get her home.

Thank you everyone for all your help. Actually, know a good place to get a replacement hose without going to a HD shop? Imagine I can get any correct gage hose and cut it to fit. The protective plastic sleeve only covered about half of the hose, so I will need to find one of those too to prevent this from happening again.

 

Good deal. You can buy the vacuum hose at any auto parts store.

 

awesome!